The proper term for a flagger or
flag person is "traffic control person" or TCP.
Motorists, pedestrians and workers rely on a traffic control
person to keep them safe as they pass by temporary
workplaces on the road. There are several
circumstances where a TCP is required required.

where a worker, equipment or
other obstruction blocks or hinders all or part of a
traveled roadway

work encroaches into an
intersection and interferes with regular traffic
movement

when traffic is reduced to one
lane in a construction zone.

when vehicular traffic is not
regulated by other devices or signage

where hazards, emergency
situations, or lack of adequate control cause an unsafe
environment for motorists, pedestrians and workers.

A traffic control person has
significant responsibility and takes precedence over
streetlights, stop signs and any other regulatory regime on
our rural and urban roads.

The Province of British Columbia
mandates that flaggers be certified in order to work on the
sites that require traffic control. Only individuals
who successfully complete the government regulated traffic
control training program can be certified. The course
is followed by an open book examination and road test.
There is a fee for taking the course.

Students, taking the course at
Traffic Control Academy, get excellent training, and
lots of extras: pre-course study guide, roadway guides and
materials for on sight work, membership for equipment
discounts, job leads.

This is a highly specialized field
with many job opportunities and the prospects are growing.

We offer our alumni an up-to-date TCP Employer contact
list. It is your responsibility to contact
the employers on the list.

Numerous projects are underway
with hundreds more on the drawing board as construction, the
film industry and BC's road and bridge development continue
to expand due to the national stimulus package which has
produced more road construction projects than at any other
time in Canadian postwar history.

Flagging companies, road
construction, BC Ferries, Production Assistants for movie
studios and Utility Companies all require certified TCPs,
even to back a truck out onto the street or at an all- day
construction job!

Your TCP certification allows you
to work anywhere in BC. The lower mainland
is booming with construction, the film industry and BC's
road and bridge development. The interior and the
island have lots as well.

Questions About the
Course

How long is the course?

The course is two full days. The
first day is spent in a classroom learning the rules and
regulations that govern traffic control. Day two
starts in the classroom for more theory, then moves outside
to perform the practical portion of the course and then
returns to the classroom for the final written exam.

Sometimes the written exam is
administered prior to the practical road training
evaluation. This permits more time for practical
experience on the road.

A traffic control certificate is
valid for three years. Every traffic control person
must successfully complete the requalification open book
exam and attain a minimum of 80% to pass. You will
have up to one year to challenge the exam before having to
take the two day TCP Course again. You are not qualified to
work as a TCP with expired certification but you will be
able to take the challenge exam.

If you do not pass the first time,
you will be encouraged to do further preparatory study
and/or take the one day refresher course in preparation for
your second attempt.

If you do not pass the second
time, you will be required to re-take the entire two-day TCP
course by which you were originally certified.

How much does it cost to take the course?

The fee for the Academy's traffic control
training program, that is required for certification, is $200
which includes your manual, pre-course reading guide, and all the extras we
offer. You will be required to pay a minimum of $50
upon registration with the balance being due on or before
the day of the start of the course. You can register
online or in person. (Please
note there will be a price increase January 1, 2017)

Class sizes are limited to 14
students per course, so classes fill quickly.
Registrations are on a first come/first serve basis. Please
register early to ensure space is available on the dates you
require.

The balance of your
registration fees are due prior to commencement of
class.

Most TCP training schools will
request that you bring a passport sized photo with you,
but at the Academy we will take your photo and process it for
your laminated wallet certification ID which is sent
to you from the regulating authorities.

On day 2

There is a practical session.

You MUST wear CSA Approved
Class 1 steel toed work boots (you will not be able to
participate in the practicum without these).

Wear clothing suitable for the
weather. Your instructor will provide you with a proper
hard hat, wrist cuffs, high visibility vest and all the
necessary equipment needed for the practical session.
These items are to be returned to the instructor at the
end of the practical session.

Not necessarily. Each
student's situation is evaluated before a decision as to
cost is made. At The Academy we do have a policy in
place for students who are required to take the course
again. The policy relies heavily on evidence that a
student pre-studied the material, applied his or herself
during the 2-day course, and asked questions and advice to
help them advance through the course.

You can bring a dictionary or
thesaurus into the examination. However, as the MoT
Traffic Control Manual for Work on Roadways and the OHS
Regulations are only written in English, the course and
tests must be given and written in English.

What arrangements can be made if I have dyslexia or
another learning disorder?

If you have a learning disorder
please advise the instructor when you first register.
Do not wait until the day the course begins. The instructor
will be able to evaluate your particular situation and
may be able to make special arrangements for you to
write the exam.

Can I challenge the exam?

You cannot challenge the initial
2-day course, but there are circumstances within which you
can challenge the refresher exam when your 3-year
certificate expires.